PROBLEM–BASED LEARNING;

A STRATEGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Petra E. Avillán-Leon, M.Ed. ESL

PRTESOL Annual Conference

Powering up for the 21st Century

November12-13

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Why is PBL a strategy for the 21st Century?

“The 21st century skills required by the new world we live in are sustained by the use of PBL in our classrooms. The leadership qualities, the collaborative work, the use of internet for researching, the cultural awareness and the critical thinking necessary for the citizens of the 21st century to contribute effectively to our society are all there.” Avillán

What is PBL?

Problem-based learning

Student-centered Research-based

(students) Understanding a

problem is the goal Real-world problems Students Plan their process Team work Technology

Project-based Learning

Student-centered Uses research A project is the goal The teacher providesInstructions Real-world problems Students perform

tasks Team work Technology

Problem- based Learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a total approach to education. As defined by Dr. Howard Barrows and Ann Kelson of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine PBL is both a curriculum and a process.

The curriculum consists of carefully

selected and designed problems that demand from the learner acquisition of critical knowledge, problem solving proficiency, self-directed learning strategies, and team participation skills.

The process replicates the commonly

used systemic approach to resolving problems or meeting challenges that are encountered in life and career.

Taken from Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction :.

Estratégias Educativas de Base Científica

Desarrollo de Conceptos Comprensión Lectora Aprendizaje Cooperativo Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas Integración Escolar

PBL in ESL classes

1. Language input and output are comprehensible Students working in groups need to make themselves understood, so they naturally adjust their input to make it comprehensible. They are often linked to specific, concrete context.

2. Language input and output are developmentally appropriate Language input need to be in the zone of proximal

development (Vygotsy, 1978) to stimulate language acquisition. Students in cooperative groups provide each other with developmentally appropriate language input.

3. Language input and output are redundant and frequent. The small group setting allows a far higher proportion of language input and output.

PBL in ESL cont…

·4. Language input and output are functional/communicative.

Learning about a language is quite different from acquiring the language. Language input and output in PBL are representative of the way a speaker will use the language in everyday settings.

5. Learning context is supportive for speech to emerge Peers are far more supportive than in the traditional classroom because they are interdependent in order to know what others know.

PBL in ESL cont…

6. Students’ attention shift from using accurate forms of the target language to meaning

Language becomes the instrument with which the students complete the activities.

7. Students are motivated and empowered.

The advantages of increased motivation and ownership in learning may have a

strong impact especially for ESL.

Let’s start a PBL lesson

I. What is PBL? – Introduce the strategy to the students

II. Select a problem to solve III. Chart the PBL process IV. Plan the final product V. Do the Research VI. Prepare the project VII. Present the project VIII. Reflect on the learning experience

References

http://areyouactionresearcheducators.yolasite.com

http://discover.education.purdue.edu/challenge/pblforesl/files/print_advantagesforESL.pdf

http://www.de.gobierno.pr/estrategias-educativas-de-base-cientifica

http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/pbl/info.html